Basket



Jan. 5, 1937. J. H. TOULOUSE BASKET Filed J u1y 9, 1955 l l l J..

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1,937

UNI-TED STATES BASKET Julian H. Toulouse, Toledo, Ohopassignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application July 9, '1935, Serial Nog-30,446

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in baskets and more particularly to wire baskets for holding bottles and the like containers.

An object of the present invention is the provi- 5 sion of a wire basket constructed to so hold a given number of beverage bottles or the like containers that they occupy much less space than ordinarily and are held against relative movement. To this end the basket construction includes bottom forming wires deformed to generally conform to part of the cross-sectional shape of the bottles or other containers to be placed in the basket, the particular deformation being such that the bottles are held against undesired relative movement irrespective of whether the basket is completely or only partially filled.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawing:

52() Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the basket illustrating the manner in which the bottles are nested and overlap.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially ..35 along the line III- III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View of a modified form of the invention.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is illustrated one form of basket.

In this form the basket is rectangular in top plan and constructed of lengths of wire of suitable gauge soldered or welded together to produce a unitary structure. The opposed ver-tical side and end walls are defined by a pair of vertically spaced wires I0 which are connected together in part by vertical upward extensions II at the ends of longitudinal bottom wires I2. 'Ihose portions of the wires IB defining the side 40 margins of the basket, are connected together by upward extensions I3 at the ends of bottom forming wires I4 which extend transverse to the length of the basket.

In the present structure there are four of these transverse wires which are arranged in pairs, each pair being disposed more or less in proximity to the ends of the basket. Each pair of wires is spaced apart a sufficient distance to properly support the body portion of the bottles B or other similar containers and the wires preferably are deformed to provide longitudinally aligned recesses I5 (Figs. 2 and 3) in which the body portions of the bottles rest and by means of which the bottles in the lower row, are held in spaced relation. Corresponding end portions I6 of one pair of the cross wires I 4 are disposed parallel with the wires III and at an elevation in proximity to the neck portions of certain of the lower row of bottles. The other pair of cross wires are formed with short horizontal portions Il at a point di- 5 agonally opposite said portions I6.

It will be observed that the overall length of the basket is only slightly greater than the length of the bottles to be held therein. The lower row may, as shown, consist of four bottles, the body l0 portions of which fit into the recesses I5. The neck portions of one pair of these bottles overlap the corresponding portions of the other pair of bottles and for this reason, the necks of alternate bottles extend in opposite directions. Because l5 of the presence of the recesses I5, it is evident that the bottles in the lower row are positively.

held against rolling or any other unintended displacement. The top row will of course be arranged in a reverse position in relation to the 20 bottom row, the spaces created between the bottles of the lower row functioning as do the recesses I5 in preventing premature movement of the bottles.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a slightly modified 25 form of the invention wherein the height of the basket is reduced to some extent and only a single marginal wire I8 is employed. This wire connects the upper ends of the extensions I9 rising from the bottom forming wires 20. sides of the basket taper downwardly to some degree with the result that a great number of the baskets may be nested together for shipment or storage.

Modifications may be resorted to within the 35 spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An open basket formed of wire adapted to hold a plurality of bottles in a confined space exposed to the surrounding atmosphere, including upstanding side and end walls, a bottom consisting of wires extending longitudinally and transversely of the basket, said bottom provided with a transverse series of recesses arranged in 45 staggered relation to accommodate the body portion only of bottles occupying a cumbent position, said recesses being elongated in the direction of the length of the basket.

2. An open basket formed of wire adapted to 50 hold a plurality of bottles in a confined space exposed to the surrounding atmosphere, including side and end Walls converging downwardly, a bottom consisting of wires extending longitudinally and transversely of the basket, the transverse 55 The 30 wires, said transverse bottom forming wires be-V ing deformed in part to provide a transverse series of recesses arranged in staggered 4relation to accommodate the body portionwonly oi' bottles occupying a cumben-t position, said recesses assuming substantially the shape of a part of the body portion of the bottles and holding the latter spaced apart.

4. A bottle holding basket adapted to store bottles in a confined space and permit said bottles to be exposed to the surrounding atmosphere, which comprises a bottom consisting of wires ex'- tending longitudinally and transversely of the basket, said transverse wires being undulated vertically, the depressed portions of said transverse wires forming two transverse series of recesses arranged in staggered relation to one another to accommodate the body portions only of the bottles while occupying a cumbent position, the crest portions of said transverse wires forming supports for the necks of said bottles between the body portions of the opposed series of bottles, the longitudinal wires being substantially straight and contacting each of said transverse wires, and side walls consisting of wires extending horizontally and vertically, the vertical wires joined to the free ends of the wires forming saidl 

